Rehab units help firefighters with overexertion, dehydration

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — When a major fire breaks out, it's not uncommon to see engines, ladder trucks and a command vehicle on the scene.

But there's another unit that goes as well. It carries no pumps or hoses, and its crew members don't go into burning buildings.

They're called rehabilitation units, and they provide both a mandated and a vital service for firefighters — giving them respite from the heat and weather, fluids and energy snacks, and medical evaluations before going back into the fire.

"It's a valuable unit for a fire department," said West Valley Fire Department Capt. Jim Johnston. "We always look for them when they're out there.